5fish
Captain
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2007
- Location
- Central Florida
Here a treat form Florida role in the Civil war....Florida was the main supplier of beef to the confederacy during the war....They organized the "Cow Cavalry" to protect the beef herds....
The "Cow Cavalry"
Small militia groups were formed to protect the inner part of Florida. These units were mostly made up of ranchers and cowhands. They were called the "Cow Cavalry." Small numbers of Union soldiers would hold cavalry raids in south Florida to capture cattle. The Union Navy would also conduct raids along the coast trying to destroy the salt work plants. It was the mission of the cow cavalry to protect the cattle ranches, salt works, and small towns of south Florida. Numerous small battles occurred as the groups met, but most battles were never documented. Florida's greatest contribution to the war, besides the 5,000 Floridian men who fought, was food supplies. Florida sent beef, pork, fish, and fruit to the Confederate troops. A vital part of the Confederate strategy was to keep Florida's inland roads and rivers protected so that the supplies could get safely northward. The soldiers of the "Cow Calvary" helped keep the Confederate army supplied with food from Florida.
I have tried to find more on then but have not been successful at finding much...I found this on cowboys in Florida....
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/cowboys/cowboys.htm
This site tells a a little more about the union trying to stop the cattle shipments to the confederacy....The union's "Florida Ranger" cavalry....
http://www.naples-marco-island-florida.com/cracker.html
See, Florida had its little own range war....
The "Cow Cavalry"
Small militia groups were formed to protect the inner part of Florida. These units were mostly made up of ranchers and cowhands. They were called the "Cow Cavalry." Small numbers of Union soldiers would hold cavalry raids in south Florida to capture cattle. The Union Navy would also conduct raids along the coast trying to destroy the salt work plants. It was the mission of the cow cavalry to protect the cattle ranches, salt works, and small towns of south Florida. Numerous small battles occurred as the groups met, but most battles were never documented. Florida's greatest contribution to the war, besides the 5,000 Floridian men who fought, was food supplies. Florida sent beef, pork, fish, and fruit to the Confederate troops. A vital part of the Confederate strategy was to keep Florida's inland roads and rivers protected so that the supplies could get safely northward. The soldiers of the "Cow Calvary" helped keep the Confederate army supplied with food from Florida.
I have tried to find more on then but have not been successful at finding much...I found this on cowboys in Florida....
http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/cowboys/cowboys.htm
This site tells a a little more about the union trying to stop the cattle shipments to the confederacy....The union's "Florida Ranger" cavalry....
http://www.naples-marco-island-florida.com/cracker.html
See, Florida had its little own range war....